Filler valve for counter-pressure filling machines



June 20, 1933. MEYER FILLER VALVE FOR COUNTER PRESSURE FILLING MACHINESFiled Aug. 22, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIG.1

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G. J. MEYER 1,915,066

FILLER VALVE FOR COUNTER PRESSURE FILLING MACHINES June 20, 1933.

Filed Aug. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES W,

Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES GEORGE J. MEYER, OF MILWAUKEE,WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO GEO. J. MEYER MANU- PATENT OFFICE FAC'IURINGCOMPANY, OF CUD'AHY, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN FILLER FORCOUNTER-PRESSURE FILLING MACHINES Application flled August 22, 1930.Serial No. 476,993.

' carbon dioxide gas when carbonated liquid is being packaged. In someinstances, Whencarbon dioxide gas is the counter-pressure medium, thebottles or other containers are first evacuated before applying thecounterpressure, thus avoiding the presence of oxygen in the containersand also conservin gas. Filler valves for counter-pressure llingmachines have heretofore been devised embodying either tapered orfiat-faced multiple-ported spigots. Such valves are relativelycomplicated in construction and are difficult to make tight and to keeptight.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved counter-pressurefiller valve which is of simple and durable construction 'to facilitatemanufacture and insure long service, and which is readily accessible topermit thorough cleaning of all internal parts and passages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filler valve including avalve body having a plurality of separate valve elements disposedtherein and actuated by a cam shaft which extends through the valve bodyand requires only a single stuffing box.

A further object of the invention is. to mount the valve body on a wallof a filler tank or bowl and in register with a large opening therein tothereby facilitate inspection and cleaning of the valve mechanism fromthe interior of the tank.

A further object is to provide a filler valve which is adaptable for usewith machines of either the air counter-pressure type or the gascounter-pressure type, in which latter the containers are evacuatedbefore filling.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter setforth and more particularly defined by the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a filler valve embodying theinvention, the valve being mounted on a filling machine tank;

F ig. 2 is a transverse section of the Ifiller valve, taken along theline 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is'an elevation of the filler valve,

parts being broken away and parts being shown in section, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve, taken along theline 4--4 of Fig. 2.

In these drawings, the numeral 10 designates the rotary liquid tank orreservoir of a fillingmachine, the normal liquid level in the tank beingindicated at 11. The tank is provided with the usual detachable cover(not shown) for access to the interior. The liquid in the tank isusually carbonated and the space above the liquid is filled with acompressed counter-pressure medium, such as air or carbon dioxide gas,to preserve the carbonation of the liquid.

The side walls of the liquid tank 10 are provided thereabout with aplurality of relatively large openings 12 (one being shown) whichcommunicate-with both the liquid and counter-pressure spaces. A valvebody 13 is the upper portion of the valve body and has journalledtherein the intermediate portion of a horizontally extending cam-shaft20.

The boss 19 is exteriorly threaded to receive a packing nut 21 whichforms therewith a stuffing box for the cam-shaft. The inner end of thecam-shaft is journalled in a bearing member 22 having a surroundingdisk-.

shaped flange 23, peripheral portions of which are held in arcuaterecesses 24 formed in the valve body. A spider or star wheel 25 iscarried on the outer end of the camshaft and cooperates with the stoppins 26 of a plurality of spaced stop members 27 (one being shown)adjustably secured to a The screw 14' stationary ring 28 whichconcentrically surrounds the liquid tank. The rotation of the liquidtank thus effects the intermittent rotation of the cam-shaft tosuccessive positions. The cam-shaft is provided with a plurality of cams29, 30, 31, 32, the first of which is exterior to the valve body, whilethe others are within the valve body. The functions of these cams arehereinafter described.

A rubber bottle-neck seat 33 of annular shape is secured within therecessed lower end of the valve body by a threaded bushing 34 and isprovided with a sleeve 35 within its central opening. A tube 36 passescoaxially through the sleeve 35 and forms anv annular passage 37therebetween. The upper end of the tube 36 is fixedly secured in thevalve body and the lower portion of the tube depends from the body fordisposition within the neck of a bottle 38 which is raised by anysuitable means into sealing engagement wit-h the seat 33. A filling tube39 is disposed coaxially within the tube 36 to form a narrow annularpassage 40 therebetween. The upper end portion of the tube 39 is securedto the valve body above the upper end of the tube 36 and the lower endportion of the tube 39 projects below the tube 36 and is provided withan internal conical valve seat 41.

A valve 42 cooperates with the valve seat 41 and is secured to a valvestem 43 which passes upwardly through the tube 39 and is guided in abore 44 formed in a flange 45 integral with the valve body. Above theflange the stem terminates in a loop 46, and a coiled spring 47surrounds the stem adj acent the loop and urges the stem upwardly tonormally close the valve 42. The loop 46 on the valve stem 43 ispivotally secured to the end portion of a rocker arm 48 disposed belowthe cam 30 to be actuated thereby, the rocker arm being pivotallymounted on a pin 49 secured to lug portions of a side wall of the valvebody. The rocker arm 48 is thus supported for swinging movement in avertical plane for effecting the cam operation of the filling valve 42.

The upper end of the filling tube 39 communicates with an elbow-shapedpassage 50 in the valve body, the entrance to the upper horizontalportion of the passage being provided with a valve seat 51 against whicha ball valve 52 releasably bears. The ball valve is normally keptagainst its seat by the pressure within the liquid tank and by the lowerend of a lever 53 which has its intermediate portion pivotally mountedon a horizontally extending shaft 54 and has its upper portion engagingthe cam 32.

The side portion of the valve body opposite the pivotal mounting 49 isprovided with a pair of adjacent vertical bores 55 and 56 both of whichopen at their upper ends above the liquid level in the tank 10 and incommunication with the counter-pressure s ace within the tank. The lowerend of the ore 55 is closed by a threaded valve seat member 57 (Fig. 3)which is ported to communicafe with a passage 58 in the valve bodyleading to the annular passage 37 between the tube 36 and the rubberseat 33. A valve 59, having a shank of non-circular cross-section, fitswithin the bore 55 and has its lower conical end releasably restingagainst the valve seat member 57 to control the access ofcounter-pressure to the bottle. The upper end of the valve 59 projectsabove the bore 55 and is provided with an annular groove 60 receivingthe forked end of a rocker arm 61. The rocker arm extends above the cam31 to be actuated thereby and is pivotally mounted on. a pin 62 securedto lug portions of a side wall of the valve body. The rocker arm 61 isthus supported for swinging movement in a vertical plane for effectingthe cam operation of the valve 59.

A horizontal bore 63 in the valve body registers with the ported valveseat member 57 and has threaded therein a valve fitting 64 which isprovided with a conical valve seat 65 against which releasably bears theconical head of a valve 66. The outer end of the valve is secured to anut 67 which slidably fits within an enlarged bore 68 formed in thefitting, a coiled spring 69 being disposed within the bore to surroundthe valve and abutting against the nut to urge the valve outwardly toits closed position. A passage 70 communicates with the bore 68 and iscontrolled by a needle valve 71. The passage 70 either opens toatmosphere directly or oins a duct 72 leading to an evacuating system(not shown) of any well known type. In the latter case the needle valvemay be opened wide or need not be used. periodically operated by arocker arm 73 which is pivotally mounted at an intermediate portion on ashaft 74 carried on the valve body 13, the upper end of the rocker armhaving an operative connection with the cam 29 on the cam-shaft 20.

The lower end of the bore 56 in the valve body is closed by a portedvalve seat member 75 (Fig. 4) on which releasably rests a ball valve 76,a pin 77 being disposed above the ball transversely of the bore toinsure retention of the valve. The ported valve seat member 75 isconnected by a bore 78 with an annular space 79 surrounding the fillingtube 39 and communicating with the narrow tubular air or gas passage 40between the tubes 36 and 39. The outer end of the bore 78 is closed b ascrew 80.

The ller valve is adapted for use with either air or carbon dioxide gasas the counter-pressure medium. In the operation of the valve using aircounter-pressure, the bottle 38 is lifted in any usual manner into seal-The valve 66 is ing engagement with the rubber seat 33, the dependingtubes 36 and 39 being disposed within the neck of the bottle. During thero tation of the filler tank the star wheel con-.

number of valve operations to be effected.

The first movement of the cam shaft causes the elevation of the rockerarm 61 by the cam 31, therebv opening the .valve 59 and permittingcounter-pressure air to flow into the bottle by way of the bore 55,ported valve seat member 57, passage 58 and annular passage 37. Thecontact of the star wheel with the second stop pin rotates the cam shaftto close the air inlet valve 59, which latter remains closed during therest of the cycle. The second stop pin is located experimentally so thatif a bottle is broken no excessive loss of counter-pressure air willresult. The third contact effects the opening of the liquid valve 42 bythe cam 30, and retracts the lever 53 from the ball check valve 52 bythe cam 32; whereupon, if counter-pressure is established in the bottle,the ball check valve 52 will roll by gravity from its seat slightlyafter the opening of the valve 42, permitting the flow of liquid intothe bottle y way of the passage 50 and filling tube 39. If thecounterpressure is not established in the bottle the ball check valve 52will not open. The liquid level in the tank is a relatively shortdistance above the bottle in order to reduce the hydrostatic pressure,thereby securing a low filling speed to minimize agitation of thecarbonated liquid. The air in the bottle displaced by the enteringliquid flows upwardly through the passage-40, annular space 79, bore 78, ported valve'seat member 75, past the lifted check valve 76, andupwardly in the bore 56 to the counter-pressure space in the tank. Assoon as the liquid level in the bottle reaches the bottom of the tube36, the flow of liquid stops, since the passage 40 is too restricted topermit the flow of liquid therein. Shortly after the filling level isreached the fourth contact rotates the cam shaft another fifth of arevolution to close the valves 42 and 52. The liquid in the bottle thenquiets down and. the fifth contact opens the valve 66 to relieve the toppressure on the bottle by way of the passages 37 and 58, ported valveseat relation of the actuating means for the cam shaft may be controlledby any suitable well known means. Expedients for accomplish lng thispurpose are shown in U. S. Patent No. 956,286, issued April 26, 1910.

When carbon dioxide gas is used as the counter-pressure medium it isdesirable to evacuate the bottles before admitting counter-pressure tothem. The evacuation may be effected by connecting the passage 70 of therelief valve 66 with a duct 72 leading to any well known evacuating andventing system, the needle valve 71 being opened wide or being omitted.When the filler valve of the invention is operated in conjunction withan v evacuating system, the first step in'the cycle of operation is themomentary opening of the valve 66 to permit evacuation of the bottleThis valve remains closed during the filling operation, and is againopened at the conclusion of the filling operation to relieve the toppressure in the filled bottle. The valve 66, when shut, serves to closecommunication between the evacuating apparatus and the counter-pressurefilling apparatus, thereby avoiding great differences of pressure in theevacuating apparatus. The presence of counter-pressure in the bore 63serves to aid the tight seating of the valve 66.

The air or gas is conducted between the bottle and the counter-pressurespace in the tank by separate inlet and outlet passages. The outletpassage from the bottle back to the counter-pressure space usuallyacquires foam, but since no reversal of air or gas flow takes place inthis passage there is no tend- :pcy to start foaming in the succeedingbot- The use of separate valves for the several functions is ofadvantage in that the individual valves are of simpler construction andcaneasily be made tight. All pressure valves are internally operated sothat separate stuffing boxes for the valves are rendered unnecessary.All important valve seats are accessible from the outside for grindingand nspection, and no side thrust is present during the movement of themechanically operated valves. By removing the cover of the filler tankthe internal valves are readily accessible for cleaning and inspection.The absence of crooked or tortuous gas and liquid passages facilitatesmanufacture and cleanmg.

The valve bodies secured to the filler tank form part thereof, and whilethe valve bodies are preferably made separate from the filler tank forfacility in manufacture, in some instances the valve bodies may beformed integral with the tank.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a filler valve for counter-pressure fillers, the combination of avalve body adapted to be secured to a filler tank in comcluding aportion 'within the tube and ex-.

tending thereabove, means for controlling the access of counter-pressureto the container, and a rotary shaft mounted in said valve body andhaving an operative connection with upper ortions of said valve.

2. In a ller valve for counter-pressure fillers, the combination, with afiller tank having a side wall provided with an openmg communicatingwithv the liquid and counterpressure spaces thereof, of a valve bodysecured to said tank in register with said opening, a rotary shaftmounted in said valve body above the liquid level in the tank, and aplurality of valve elements carried by said valve body for the fillingof a container from said tank, said valve elements having operatingconnections with said shaft.

3. In a filler valve for counter-pressure fillers, the combination of avalve body adapted to be secured to a filler tank in communication withthe liquid space and the counter-pressure v space thereof, a rotaryshaft journalled in said valve body and carrying cam means, valvescarried on said valve body for controlling the access ofcounter-pressure and liquid to a container to be filled, and rocker armsmounted on said valve body and operatively connected to said cam meansand valves.

4. In a filler valve for counter-pressure fillers, the combination of avalve body adapted to be secured to a filler tank in communication withthe liquid space and the counter-pressure space thereof, a filler tubedepending from said valve body for entrance into a container to befilled and forming a liquid conduit therein, a valveat the lower end ofthe tube, a check valve for said con- 5 duit having its'openingcontrolled, by the presence of counter-pressure in the container, andmeans for opening and closing sald first named valve and for closingsaid check,

valve,

5. In a filler, the combination of a filler tank having a liquid spaceand a counterpressure gas space and having a side wall includingapertured portions registering with said spaces, a filler valve bodysecured communicating with said spaces, a rotatable shaft mounted insaid valve body, and a plurality of valve elements carried by said valvebody and having operating connections with said shaft.

6. In a filler, the combination of a filler tank receiving liquid andcounter-pressure gas, gas and liquid conduits communicating with saidtank and having a releasable connection with a container'to be filled,valve to the apertured portions ofsaid side wall and:

means controlling said conduits, a rotary shaft journalled in said tankvand having its inner portions exposed to the internal pressure in saidtank, means for packing said shaft, and operating connections betweensaid valve means and the inner portions of said shaft and exposed to theinternal pressure in said tank.

7. In a counter-pressure filler, the combination of a filler tank, aliquid conduit for admitting liquid from said tank to a container to befilled, there being a valve seat for said conduit having an inclinedball-support ing surface, a valve ball engageable with said valve seatand rollable by gravity on said inclined surface to an open position,said valve ball being releasably retained on said seat by internalpressure in said tank and being gravitationally opened on theestablishment of counter-pressure in the container and conduit, andactuating means within said tank for moving said valve ball to saidvalve seat. 8. In a filler valve for counter-pressure fillers, thecombination of a valve body adapted to be secured to a filler tank incommunication with the liquid space and counterpressure space thereof, afiller tube depending from said valve body for entrance into a containerto be filled, valve means controlling the discharge from said fillertube, there being a pair of upright bores in said valve body opening attheir upper ends above the liquid level in the tank, valve seat membersin the lower ends of said bores, a reciprocatory valve stem disposed inone of said bores and releasably seated on the corresponding valve seatmember, there being a passage from said valve seat member to the lowerend of said valve body to register with the container being filled,means for lifting said valve stem to admit counter-pressure medium tothe container, a tube surrounding said filler tube and formingtherebetween a passage communicating with the valve seat member in theother bore for the return 'of counter-pressure medium to thecounter-pressure space of the filler tank, and a check valve movablymounted on said last-named valve seat member for preventing the outwardfiow of counter-pressure medium therethrough from the tank.

9. In a filler, the combination of a receptacle having a liquid spaceand a counter-pressure space, conduit means in communication with saidspaces for application to a container to be filled, a rotary shaftjoul'nalled in said receptacle and having an inner portion exposed tointernal pressure in said receptacle, means for packing said shaft, anda plurality of valve elements for said conduit means having operatingconnections with said inner portion of said shaft. In testimony whereof,Iaflix my signature.

GEORGE J. MEYER.

